Ranking college football's top 100 newcomers for the 2026 season - ESPN

If the upcoming 2026 college football season is anything like its predecessor, transfer quarterbacks and top freshmen will be crucial for many College Football Playoff runs.

And by now, with less than 100 days until the start of the season, we can assess rosters and what players did during spring practice with their new teams. While we have analyzed the top newcomer for each Power 4 team, these rankings are regardless of teams. They give a more thorough account of which teams have best assessed their rosters and brought in top talent.

Each player is ranked based on a team's need and what physical skill set they bring to their new team.

Year: Senior

Pos. rank: 1

Need: With Fernando Mendoza off to the NFL and backup Alberto Mendoza having transferred to Georgia Tech, the Hoosiers needed another experienced passer capable of sustaining College Football Playoff expectations in Bloomington. Indiana has become one of the portal's premier destinations for quarterbacks, and Hoover, who transferred from TCU, is next in line after Kurtis Rourke and national champion and Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza.

Value: Hoover gives Curt Cignetti extensive experience, skill and production after throwing for 9,629 yards and 71 touchdowns at TCU. He is a confident gunslinger who thrives pushing the ball vertically and operating within RPO concepts. His swagger and aggressiveness should unlock explosive plays through the air, albeit with some volatility. Hoover has 42 career turnovers and only one season without double-digit interceptions.

Year: Junior

Pos. rank: 1

Need: Texas addressed the departures of Parker Livingstone, DeAndre Moore Jr. and Jaime Ffrench Jr. by landing one of the most dynamic playmakers in the portal. The Longhorns needed